Frequently asked questions
248 questions on yacht surveys, buying and owning
The questions buyers and owners actually ask, answered from the field. Each one has its own page, with the reasoning set out alongside the answer.
- questions
- 248questions
- topics
- 9topics
- experience
- 28years in the field
KNOWLEDGE BASE
All 248 questions, by topic
- What licence do you need to operate a private boat up to 24 m in Turkey?
- What are the known weak points when buying a used Hunter?
- Can a Hunter cross an ocean — is it a blue water boat?
- Is the backstayless B&R rig on Hunters safe?
- What recurring problems should you look for on a used Westerly?
- Are bilge keels safe and how do they affect performance?
- Why do Westerlys have a reputation for being built like tanks?
- What should be checked first on a used Jeanneau?
- What does Jeanneau’s Prisma Process actually mean?
- What is the difference between Jeanneau and Beneteau, and which sails better?
- What should you watch for when buying a used Bavaria?
- Are Bavaria yachts safe offshore and in heavy weather?
- Are production-built boats like Bavaria lower quality?
- Beneteau or Jeanneau — which should you choose?
- Are Beneteau yachts suitable for ocean passages?
- Where are Beneteau boats built and what is the brand’s origin?
- What mistakes should you avoid when buying a boat?
- How should you choose a boat for offshore passages?
- What should families with children prioritise in a boat?
- How do you compare boat insurance policies?
- Which refit work adds value, and which does not?
- What type of boat is most practical on the Turkish coast?
- What catamaran disadvantages get overlooked against a monohull?
- How do you compare the costs of a motor yacht and a sailing yacht?
- What matters in a boat for living aboard?
- What should you check when buying a RIB?
- Which Turkish yards are reliable to buy from?
- How much do engine hours matter when buying?
- Are modern boats or classic designs better sea boats?
- Is a bow thruster essential for manoeuvring?
- What does "recently refitted" mean in a boat advertisement?
- What are the average annual costs on top of the purchase?
- Catamaran or monohull?
- Should you buy an ex-charter boat?
- How should you decide on boat length?
- Is it sensible to buy a 1970s or 1980s hull?
- Is a survey compulsory when buying second-hand?
- Should I choose a sailing yacht or a motor yacht?
- GRP, timber or steel?
- What should a first-time buyer look out for?
- What share of a 9-10 m sailing yacht’s value goes on annual berthing, maintenance and insurance?
- Is buying an inexpensive 35-40 year old classic more costly in the long run?
- How is the annual haul-out and maintenance budget calculated?
- Is a survey an unnecessary expense on a second-hand boat?
- How does length affect fixed annual costs — is there a ratio?
- What hidden costs come on top of the purchase price in the first year?
- How much does storage and winter lay-up cost?
- How are VAT and taxes calculated when buying a boat?
- Can I finance a boat purchase?
- When and how should winter maintenance be done?
- What is antifouling and how often is it needed?
- How much does a yacht survey cost?
- How is a yacht delivery fee calculated?
- How is the survey fee calculated?
- Is the haul-out cost included in the survey fee?
- Is the fee refunded if I cancel the survey?
- How much is the British flag registration package?
- Is a sea trial included in a yacht survey?
- Does the boat have to be hauled out for a survey?
- How long does a survey take and what does the report contain?
- The boat looks new and well kept — do I still need a survey?
- How do brokers use Category B and C findings in price negotiation?
- How are osmosis and delamination judged on a pre-1980 GRP sailing yacht?
- How do you negotiate on survey findings, and which findings carry weight?
- Why are ballast and keel bolt checks critical in a survey?
- What is checked in the bilge system and tanks?
- How is rot and internal damage found in a wooden boat survey?
- How does surveying an aluminium boat differ from GRP or timber?
- Should the sea trial be arranged separately from the survey?
- How should I prepare my boat for survey day as a seller?
- What is checked in deck gear and life-saving equipment?
- Do insurers require a survey report, and what do they ask for?
- What is checked in an engine survey — is a separate specialist needed?
- What licences and documents are required to charter a boat in Turkey?
- What makes YachtSurvey different from other survey firms?
- What is checked in the electrical system, and how is fire risk identified?
- What is looked at specifically on a sandwich-construction boat?
- What is checked in a rig and sail survey?
- What does thermal imaging find that a standard survey does not?
- How is a survey report structured and how should it be read?
- What is checked on the shaft, propeller and rudder?
- How is osmosis repaired on a GRP hull and what does it cost?
- How is a moisture meter used in a survey and what do the readings mean?
- How does surveying a catamaran differ from a monohull?
- Does the boat have to come out of the water for a survey?
- Whose side is the surveyor on — is the report impartial?
- What does a survey report contain?
- How long does a yacht survey take?
- Can I buy a boat without a survey — how risky is it?
- What is a yacht survey and what is it for?
- For which makes and models does a survey matter most?
- What is a gulet and how is one surveyed?
- What is osmosis and how much does it matter when buying?
- What is the difference between a survey and a valuation?
- How far in advance should I book a survey?
- Do I need to be aboard during the survey?
- In which languages is the survey report issued?
- Is the survey report accepted for insurance and official use?
- Which measuring instruments do you use in a survey?
- Which areas do you cover?
- Can you survey a boat lying in Greece?
- Do you also survey wooden and steel boats?
- What problems come up most often when buying a used boat?
- Sailing yacht or motor yacht for a first-time buyer?
- What paperwork matters when buying a foreign-flagged boat?
- How do I sell my boat?
- How does a builder’s warranty work and does it transfer on resale?
- What financing options exist for a boat purchase?
- How is an offer made and how does the negotiation run?
- Ashore or afloat — how should a boat be laid up for winter?
- What raises and lowers a boat’s value?
- How does VAT apply when buying and selling a boat?
- How should a sale listing be prepared to attract buyers?
- How do you research a used boat’s history — damage, mortgages, liens?
- Is the deposit refunded if the sale contract is cancelled?
- What is boat management and what does it give an owner?
- How do you recognise and avoid fraud when buying a boat?
- What is the difference between the harbour register and the ship registry?
- How does boat co-ownership work and what are the risks?
- What does an EU flag and VAT-paid status give a buyer?
- Which listing platforms and sources should you use?
- What clauses are essential in a memorandum of agreement?
- How is a boat’s market value established?
- What taxes and duties does a seller pay in Turkey?
- Who pays the broker’s commission and how is it set?
- From which year are older boats considered risky?
- How do you check whether a boat carries a mortgage?
- How do you negotiate the price of a boat?
- How do I sell faster when listing a boat?
- Which documents should you check when buying?
- Can a foreign national buy a boat in Turkey?
- What is an escrow account in a boat purchase?
- Is a deposit refundable in a boat purchase?
- How is a preliminary agreement drawn up?
- What should you pay attention to when selling a boat?
- How is the value of a used boat determined?
- Do you have to use a broker when buying a boat?
- What does a yacht broker do?
- How is a yacht delivery priced?
- How are daily range and route planned for a delivery?
- How is a transit log obtained for a delivery?
- What happens if the engine fails during a delivery?
- What sea conditions are considered safe for a delivery?
- What checks should be done before a long delivery?
- How is crew fatigue managed on a long delivery?
- What communications equipment is required, and what does GMDSS require?
- What documents are needed to use a foreign-flagged boat in Turkish waters?
- How are safe harbours chosen along a delivery route?
- What should an owner check after a delivery?
- How should insurance cover be checked before a delivery?
- What special rules apply to a delivery through the Dardanelles?
- When is road transport preferable to a sea delivery?
- How should you choose a delivery skipper?
- How is fuel consumption and cost calculated for a delivery?
- How does a delivery from Turkey to Greece work?
- How do customs and taxes work when importing a boat into Turkey?
- How is safety managed on night passages?
- What documents must the boat and skipper carry on a domestic delivery?
- What do you do in bad weather during a delivery?
- What is the best season for a Mediterranean delivery?
- Is a delivery from the Aegean to the Sea of Marmara difficult?
- What matters when planning a delivery route?
- How does bringing a boat from abroad work?
- Is insurance required for a delivery?
- What is a yacht delivery and when is one needed?
- How often should a GRP boat be hauled out for annual maintenance?
- When should stainless deck and rig fittings be replaced?
- Why keep a maintenance log and how should it be organised?
- How are winches serviced and how often should they be greased?
- How do you choose the right antifouling?
- How is a soft furnishings refit done?
- How is the electrical system upgraded to 24V or lithium?
- How should deck fittings be bedded and sealed?
- When does a marine engine need a rebuild, and what does it cost?
- When does a teak deck need replacing and what does it cost?
- What is an epoxy barrier coat and when is it applied?
- Which marinas in Turkey are best for maintenance work?
- How often should topsides be machine polished?
- How is interior woodwork maintained?
- How often should engine oil and filters be changed?
- How often should standing rigging be replaced?
- How is the onset of osmosis detected on a GRP hull?
- Which products should be used to clean the bilge?
- How should sails and rigging be maintained?
- How should a boat be winterised?
- How should a teak deck be cleaned and maintained?
- How is yellowed or dull gelcoat restored?
- Why do anodes matter and when should they be replaced?
- What work should be done while the boat is ashore?
- How often should antifouling be renewed?
- Why do batteries get hot?
- Why have my navigation lights stopped working?
- Why is my solar panel not producing its rated output?
- The air conditioning is not cooling or heating — what should be checked?
- Why does my lithium battery stop accepting charge or trip the BMS?
- Why does my chartplotter or VHF fail to start or freeze?
- Why are my trim tabs not working and the boat listing?
- Why will the gearbox not engage ahead or astern?
- Why does my generator drop out or stop under load?
- How is water or diesel bug cleaned out of a fuel tank?
- My hydraulic steering has gone heavy or slack — what should I do?
- The batteries are not charging — how do I identify an alternator fault?
- The engine temperature spikes underway — what should I do first?
- Why does the engine hunt or stall at idle?
- The windlass clicks but does not turn — what is wrong?
- How do I clear a blocked marine toilet?
- How much should a traditional stern gland drip?
- Why does a fuse keep blowing on the panel?
- Why does my water pump cycle on and off?
- The bilge pump runs continuously — what should I do?
- When should the raw water impeller be replaced?
- Why does my engine produce black smoke?
- Why does my diesel produce white smoke?
- Why will my engine not crank?
- How does a bent propeller blade affect speed and fuel consumption?
- I found rust in the fuel tank — does it have to be replaced?
- The bathing platform is broken — repair or replace?
- How is stray current and bonding damage detected?
- Blisters under the paint on an aluminium hull — is that pitting?
- Why does topside paint blister and flake, and how is it fixed?
- How is stringer or frame damage found and repaired?
- How are cracked or yellowed acrylic windows repaired?
- How is fire damage assessed on a boat?
- What structural damage does an impact cause in a GRP hull?
- How is mould and damp damage in the interior dealt with?
- How is galvanic corrosion of the propeller prevented?
- How is a bent shaft identified and what does it lead to?
- Why are hairline cracks in chainplates dangerous?
- How is a collapsed or broken engine mount identified?
- How are hatch and portlight leaks resolved?
- What causes spider cracks in gelcoat?
- How is a water-logged rudder blade repaired?
- What causes soft spots and flex in the deck?
- What do corroded or weeping keel bolts mean?
- What damage should be looked for after a grounding?
- What is GRP delamination and how is it detected?
- How is osmosis damage repaired on a hull?
- If osmosis is found, should I walk away from the boat?
- Is machinery breakdown always covered by hull insurance?
- Where is the legal line between towing, salvage and wreck removal?
- Is loss of hire cover standard on charter boats?
- What does the general average clause cover and how does it work in practice?
- Why does the agreed value clause matter in a yacht policy?
- Can a 1970s GRP boat be given full hull cover?
- How is a charter licence obtained in Turkey?
- What boat licences exist in Turkey?
- Is boat insurance compulsory, and what types are there?
- How is boat registration handled in Turkey?
Your question is not on the list.Write to us— we will answer it and add it here.
Contact
Book your survey
Tell us where the vessel lies and your approximate date — we reply the same day.
Serkan Kotel
Yacht surveyor · IIMS · ABYC · MCA — the person who answers the phone, walks the boat and signs the report is the same person.
Phone
+905320595917Service areas
Bodrum · Yalıkavak · Turgutreis · Milas · Göcek · Fethiye · Marmaris · Datça · İstanbul · Ayvalık